How Prostate Cancer Is Treated
Colon Vs. Rectal Cancer
You start from the GI tract, you go into the esophagus, the stomach, the small bowel, and then you hit the colon. And at the very end of the colon is the rectum. So, in a sense, rectal cancer is worse, because it's very low, many times if it's really low, in order to remove it, the patient has to have a colostomy, which in the minds of many patients is a very bad thing. But for almost all colon cancers, you do not need a colostomy. So it's only the very low rectal cancers where that's needed, and also in the treatment, when you're talking about adjuvant treatment, which means the treatment after a section, the treatments will be different.Nancy Kemeny, MD (cont.)
Because in colon cancer, since it's higher up, and since it spreads in the abdomen, and to the liver and lungs, the treatment is chemotherapy afterwards. But in rectal cancer, since it's very low, and it's very close to the nerves and the bones and everything is very close to where the rectum is, you need radiation as well as chemotherapy after the surgery, or even before the surgery. A lot of surgeons these days like to do radiation and chemotherapy before the surgery to try to reduce the tumor, so they will have to do less surgery.Nancy Kemeny, MD (cont.)
So the treatments are different, depending on whether it's colon or rectum. But once it's metastatic, meaning that it's spread to the liver or lungs, or to the bones, then the treatment is the same.","publisher":"WebMD Video"} ]]>
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: What are the differences between colon and rectal cancers?Nancy Kemeny, MD
You start from the GI tract, you go into the esophagus, the stomach, the small bowel, and then you hit the colon. And at the very end of the colon is the rectum. So, in a sense, rectal cancer is worse, because it's very low, many times if it's really low, in order to remove it, the patient has to have a colostomy, which in the minds of many patients is a very bad thing. But for almost all colon cancers, you do not need a colostomy. So it's only the very low rectal cancers where that's needed, and also in the treatment, when you're talking about adjuvant treatment, which means the treatment after a section, the treatments will be different.Nancy Kemeny, MD (cont.)
Because in colon cancer, since it's higher up, and since it spreads in the abdomen, and to the liver and lungs, the treatment is chemotherapy afterwards. But in rectal cancer, since it's very low, and it's very close to the nerves and the bones and everything is very close to where the rectum is, you need radiation as well as chemotherapy after the surgery, or even before the surgery. A lot of surgeons these days like to do radiation and chemotherapy before the surgery to try to reduce the tumor, so they will have to do less surgery.Nancy Kemeny, MD (cont.)
So the treatments are different, depending on whether it's colon or rectum. But once it's metastatic, meaning that it's spread to the liver or lungs, or to the bones, then the treatment is the same. latest videos on Colorectal CancerLoad More
Colorectal Cancer
When a cancerous growth originates in the colon and then spreads to the rectum, it leads to colorectal cancer. It is the second most common form of cancer in the western world. The risk of colorectal cancer is higher after the age of fifty years. Experts have suggested that smoking, fat-rich diet, Crohn's disease and colitis are some of the risk factors for this disease.
The symptoms of colorectal cancer include bowel disorder (diarrhea or constipation), abdominal heaviness, bloody stool, bloating, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and tiredness. Diagnostic test like colonoscopy helps diagnose the severity of such a condition. For treatment of colorectal cancer, surgery (if detected in early stage), chemotherapy, radiation therapy and sometimes combination therapy are mostly recommended. Read about cancer -- causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
CausesThe colon is a 5 feet long twisted tube that helps in the absorption of water and various nutrients from the food you eat, whereas the end portion (about 6 inches) of the digestive tract that serves as a passage for excretion of stool is called the rectum. Read about 8 cancer-causers in your daily life you should be aware of.
Colorectal cancer (also known as bowel cancer) is the 6th common cause of cancer deaths in India. It develops due to overgrowth of cells lining the colon and the rectum. These tumours can enlarge with time and then invade the colon completely. Did you know faulty genes can cause bowel cancer?
In most cases of colorectal cancer, the actual cause is not found. But certain risk factors can increase the chances of colon cancer like -
Sometimes, colorectal cancer can develop without showing any symptoms. With progressive invasion of tumours, the following symptoms can be seen:
Read more about symptoms of cancer you shouldn't ignore DiagnosisThe common diagnostic tests that are used to determine colorectal cancer are -
Colonoscopy: It is commonly used to detect colon cancers or precancerous polyps/tumours. A thin tube is inserted through the rectal opening.
CT scan or MRI scan: For determining the stage of cancer, a CT scan or MRI scan is taken. It is also used to check whether the cancer has spread to other organs. Here are top 10 facts you should know about CT scan.
Sigmoidoscopy: This is another scope examination which is used to detect cancer in the lowest part of the colon. It is similar to colonoscopy but it uses a smaller tube than the one used in colonoscopy.
Read about biomarkers: A new non-invasive technique to diagnose colorectal cancer.
TreatmentColorectal cancer can be treated by -
Chemotherapy: It is usually initiated after the colon tumour is surgically removed in order to prevent recurring tumours. A combination of anticancer drugs may be administered orally or directly into the bloodstream. Read more about chemotherapy and its side-effects.
Surgery: Cancerous tumours in the colon can be safely removed with surgery. The type of surgery to be performed depends on the size and the location of the tumour. Partial colectomy is a surgical procedure in which a part of the colon or the rectum containing the tumour is taken out along with a surrounding healthy tissue which is reconnected later. Sometimes, a colostomy is performed in which the healthy end of the large intestine is removed. You may also like to read about latest research and advances in cancer treatment.
Radiotherapy: High-energy rays are used to kill cancer cells and stop their growth. It is sometimes used before performing a surgery to shrink the size of the tumour.
Here is how vitamin D helps to fight colorectal cancer.
PrognosisNot all colorectal cancers are fatal. Early detection and treatment can lead to an excellent outcome in colorectal cancer patients. In fact, more than 60 percent of cases of colorectal can be cured completely if they are detected at an early stage. Read about beating cancer with naturopathy and herbal medicine.
Therefore, initial symptoms should not be ignored. If you have a family history of cancer, you should regularly screen yourself. Otherwise, screening should be initiated soon after the age of 50 years. Here are some tips to prevent cancer.
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Early Onset Colorectal Cancer: Why Are More Young People Being Diagnosed With The Disease?
Colorectal Cancer Is Now Also a Young Person's DiseaseColorectal cancer develops in the large intestine, known as the colon. It consists of the final section of the digestive tract and the rectum, which makes up the last several inches of the colon, according to the Mayo Clinic. Historically, colorectal cancer has been considered a disease of middle age, with 90 percent of cases occurring in people over age 50.
But, increasingly, patients look a lot like Spill.
Colorectal cancer is now the third leading cause of cancer death in young adults. In fact, about 20 percent of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are between ages 20 and 54, according to the Colon Cancer Coalition. Compared with people born in 1950, people born after 1990 are twice as likely to develop colon cancer and 4 times as likely to develop rectal cancer, the coalition reports.
Doctors are still piecing together why this is. Researchers are looking at certain environmental exposures, such as food additives, stress, inflammation, and even overuse of antibiotics during childhood, as potential colorectal cancer causes for the significant jump in colorectal cancer risk in the younger population.
Some believe it may have something to do with changes in the gut microbiome caused by eating a diet high in processed foods, which are difficult to avoid in today's food system.
"Many people have attributed it to obesity, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes, but we don't think that's playing as much of a role as people thought, because there are a lot of people who are getting colorectal cancer who don't have these comorbidities," says Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles. "It is our big mystery."
Diagnoses in Young People Often Happen Too LateWhat many experts, including Dr. May, do know for sure is that colorectal cancer should no longer be treated as a disease found only in older adults. Unfortunately, not every doctor knows about the change in risk patterns, and stories like Spill's are not uncommon.
Spill's best friend met someone in graduate school who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 27.
"She had a similar experience with having to go from doctor to doctor before being taken seriously," Spill says.
May says she wants patients to feel empowered to seek a second opinion and to know that if they believe something is wrong, they should continue to look for a doctor who will look into the situation further.
"It's your life. You need to feel empowered to bring this up time and time again. And if you feel that a doctor isn't addressing your issues, you have the right to see another," May says. "We need to not just assume that just because a person is young, or because a woman just had a baby, that it's something benign, like hemorrhoids. Anyone who is having symptoms should have a colonoscopy."
What Colorectal Cancer Symptoms Should Young People Be Aware Of?Many people don't have any colorectal cancer symptoms until their cancer has reached a late stage, according to May, but there are a few telltale signs to watch for.
Blood in your stool is a common symptom of the disease. Other colorectal cancer signs include "pencil stool," which describes stool that is long and thin, potentially because a tumor is constricting the colon or rectum, as well as cramping, abdominal pain, and new diarrhea or constipation. Decreased appetite, fatigue, and weight loss typically don't occur until colorectal cancer is in an advanced stage, May says.
She implores young women, especially, to advocate for themselves if they think something is wrong, because there are issues that make it easy to dismiss symptoms of colorectal cancer in women.
In this population, some warning signs of colorectal cancer, such as anemia, may be attributed to pregnancy or menstruation. "A lot of women have low blood counts or anemia because of menstruation, and their primary care doctor makes the assumption that [menstruation is] the culprit. Meanwhile, there are many causes of anemia, including blood in the rectum."
"If you are concerned that you may have colorectal cancer, talk to your provider in earnest. Tell them that you have heard about this disease, and you want to make sure you aren't having the symptoms," May says. "If you have tried that a couple times, and your doctor still doesn't want to send you for a colonoscopy, you should feel empowered to ask for a second opinion."
A Happy EndingSpill says the weeks after her diagnosis, as she visited different cancer treatment centers, felt as though she had been picked up by a tornado and set down in chairs in different offices throughout New York and New Jersey.
"I got pushed and shoved to all these different scans. We talked about my future and what would be happening. We talked about doing oral chemo for six months and radiation for six months, and freezing my eggs before starting treatment," Spill says.
Before she started chemotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Spill's doctors tested her tumor for a mutation that would qualify her for a clinical trial of an immunotherapy drug the center was overseeing.
It was positive. Spill became the fourth person in the United States to try the therapy, which has far fewer side effects than traditional radiation and chemotherapy, and it preserved her ability to conceive in the future.
She was scheduled for nine treatments over the course of six months. By her fourth, the tumor had shrunk by half. It was then that her doctor told her that the therapy had completely cleared the tumors in the three other women enrolled in the trial. By the final treatment, her tumor had completely disappeared.
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